We could all use a tip or two on how to save some money from time to time, but the sad thing is that most of those tips include a complete lifestyle change in order to see a return of your money. You will find yourself reading about skipping family holidays and switching to lifestyle which is more sustainable; and all you need is a nice tip on how to save some extra cash which you could use on that very holiday. Luckily, not all money saving tips include a complete lifestyle change.

Save money on water. Start with little things: when you’re brushing your teeth, close the tap. Or simply have a glass of water to wash your mouth afterwards instead of standing next to an open tap and brushing your teeth. In addition, how strong a faucet do you need while you’re doing the dishes? Replace your faucet with a low-flow one and see how your bills change for the better. You can cut your bills down from 25 up to 60%. These faucets are not expensive, they cost between $10 and $20 a piece, and the investment is worth it!

Plan ahead. Planning ahead is useful in all spheres of life, so why not plan ahead when you go grocery shopping too? Make a detailed list of things you need for that week and only go shopping once. Remember to really make a detailed list, for going back and forth for a forgotten loaf of bread and bag of sugar will waste your money, time, patience, and gas. In addition, stick to the list you made, many supermarkets make you spend more and buying a thing here and another one there will leave you penniless in the long run.

Saving money over night. So called ‘vampire electronics’ spend nearly a hundred dollars a year worth of electricity even when they’re turned off. It doesn’t matter if your TV or a cell phone chargers are only plugged in and not turned on, they’re still wasting electricity. So, to avoid paying higher electricity bills, plug your devices into power strips and make sure they’re switched off at the end of the day. When it comes to ‘invisible costs’ you should also consider investing in a better home insulation.

Saving money on TV and the internet. Almost every household has and needs a TV, good internet connection, and a phone; but in the long run, you’re paying three separate bills instead of one. Add a Netflix account to that and you can see where has all that money gone. To save a bit on all your tech needs, you can get a Compare Broadband bundle which combines all these things into one single service you pay. No separate bills and additional costs and you’ll save some time along with your money too.

Saving a bit of money is always a good idea, and it can certainly come in handy on a family holiday, and it can teach your children valuable lessons about money too. There is a great German proverb that says: “He who saves in little things, can be liberal in great ones”. So in order to be able to spend some more money someplace else, save on those little things in household.

John Stone is a regular contributor at Smoothdecorator blog. He’s a DIY enthusiast who occasionally likes to put his ideas down to paper and share them with like-minded people. His fields of interest include home improvement, sustainability, new technologies, and pretty much all-things-DIY.

Valentine’s Day may only be two days away, but there is still time for you to express your love and appreciation for your family, friends and main squeezes with some quick and easy DIY projects. To help show your cupid’s spirit to others this year, The Domestic Peach has discovered the following simple ways to spread the love this V-Day:

Heart Shaped Cupcakes (all you need to do is make a side dent and you got hearts)

Valentine’s Day Banner made from old book pages or newspaper, construction paper, buttons, and strings (Grab a pair of scissors for this)

Today is National Pie Day in the United States, but that doesn’t mean we cannot celebrate this special recognition day just north of the border. Pie has always been a favourite of mine…and a lot of you out there. There is something about the sweet filling, the buttery crust or the fact that it is soft on the inside and well-baked on the outside. No matter what your reason is for loving pie, it is just plain good!

Pie definitely deserves its own special day like this. I crave pie regularly, so I thought I would share some of my favourites that are delish and would make a great dessert… or a yummy indulgence when you need it:

APPLE PIE

Classic and All-American, so to speak. Apple Pie is a traditional mix of sweet and tart – the sweet taste of the crust goes well with the crisp, tart flavour of apples, complete with a spicy dash of cinnamon.

BANANA CREAM PIE

You thought chocolate was the primary sweet… think again! Banana Cream Pie is creamy, sweet and offers a slice of heaven to those looking to serve and enjoy a more rich dessert.

PEACH PIE

Obviously, this is The Domestic Peach’s top favourite. Peach Pie is just delicious, with the great taste of peaches and cream baked into a pie, which goes well with a side of vanilla ice cream.

PEANUT BUTTER PIE

Think of a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, just in pie form. Peanut Butter Pie is a decadent dessert and is a huge favourite of peanut lovers who also have a soft spot for chocolate.

KEY LIME PIE

The pure taste of citrus fruit, mixed with sugar and cream, packaged in crumble crust. Key Lime Pie is sometimes the last dessert choice from the pie family, but don’t knock it ’til you try it. It is delicious!

To learn more about the different types of pies that deliciously exist and for great pie recipes, CLICK HERE

This winter keeps getting colder and colder and nothing feels better than a hot beverage to warm up your chilled bones after being outside. Aside from the energy jolts of caffeine that I get from my morning cup o’joe, my other favourite hot drink (since childhood actually) is a classic hot chocolate. Sometimes, nothing is better than the sweet taste of chocolate, combined with milk and your choice of whipped cream or vanilla icing powder on top.

Here is a simple way to make hot chocolate in the comfort of your own home…